Imperfect Life: Arc 8

Chapter 17

The next night, just a little after dinner, Brandon walked down his neighborhood street, making his way over to Crys' house. He didn't have his plan ready yet, but something was calling to him, telling him that he just had to try and talk to Crys, so that's what he was going to do.

It was dark out, the only light being given was from the street lamps on the sidewalks. It was quiet, too. Brandon could only hear his footsteps as he walked. There was nothing else, and it unsettled him. Regardless, he kept going. He wasn't going to let a slight feeling of unease stop him.

Just a few minutes later, Brandon made it to his destination. He walked up to Crys' front door and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He didn't expect one anyway.

"Crys?" He asked, speaking up, but not loud enough for the neighbors to get angry. Still, he got no reply. At this point he was hoping that maybe, just maybe, Crys' curiosity would get the better of her and she would at the very least listen quietly from the other side, being able to hear him because of her better hearing. Luckily for him, though he didn't know it, that was exactly what was happening. The only thing between him and Crys was now a locked door. A locked door that she could open if she wanted to.

Crys stayed silent. The one and only reason she even considered getting this close and listening was because of the door between her and Brandon. She was locked in, meaning he was safe. Sheer curiosity is what had brought her to the door, though. She had spent so much time avoiding Brandon and what he had to say that by now, part of her longed to know what he would say if finally given the chance.

Brandon, still unaware that Crys was right there, decided to say his piece, even if it was to nobody. "Crys, I don't know if you're there, but if you are... please, we all miss you. I miss you. I-I know you probably think you're a monster, but, you're not. You really aren't. Seinhou tortured you, Crys. He made you do it. It's his fault. It's all his fault..." Brandon took a deep breath. His voice had started to quiver and he could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "Please, Crys, are you there? I-I just want to talk to you. You didn't hurt me. You really didn't. You didn't know it was me, and, y-you were so angry with S-Seinhou that you didn't realize what you were doing. Please, Crys... Please..." He murmured. "I miss you..."

There was no response. It was just quiet. It wasn't even an unsettling quiet like before. Now, it was just... quiet.

Brandon took a few moments, letting the quiet have its place, then he sighed with nothing but disappointment, turned, and left. He went back home. There was nothing else to do but that.

Meanwhile, Crys, now knowing Brandon had left, leaned her back against the door and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor. She quietly cried to herself. Brandon's words meant something to her, even though she didn't believe most of them. It broke her heart, which was something she didn't even think was possible at this point. Her emptiness consumed her again, and she fell asleep, back still against the door.